An Anemone, Anemopsis Macrophylla, and the Aquarium Hobby

August 1, 2022

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Anemones are among the oldest and most recognizable inhabitants of our aquariums. Their alien-like appearance makes them one of the most fascinating aquarium inhabitants to observe. They are also very challenging for hobbyists, especially anemones. Anemones belong to the zoological order of Anthozoa, also known as cnidarians. This class contains over 1,000 different species of jellyfishes, corals, and sea anemones. The general care guidelines for anemones may seem simple at first glance but in reality they are quite challenging to implement successfully. An anemone is a predatory animal that affixes itself to a solid surface for stability. It feeds on small fish or other animals by shooting its tentacles out to catch prey which it then pulls back into its body with its numerous sticky tentacles called pedal discs in response to prehension cell receptors on their surface that detect chemical signals released by potential food sources when they come into contact with the tentacles of the anemone. They have several adaptations that make this possible including:

Adaptation One: Eight wand-like tentacles

## Adaptation One: Eight wand-like tentacles Anemones have 8 tentacles that are used for catching prey and for sensing their environment. The tentacles are covered in stinging cells that are used to paralyze and kill small animals that come into contact with them. The tentacles of an anemone can also be used as a means of self-defense when the anemone is threatened.

Adaptation Two: Sticky pedal disc tentacles

An anemone’s pedal disc is a circular structure surrounding the mouth which is used to catch prey or defend the anemone from larger animals. When an anemone senses food nearby, it extends its pedal disc tentacle to catch its prey. To humans, the disc is often mistaken for a jellyfish sting.

Adaptation Three: Epidermis with stinging cells

Anemones are covered with stinging cells that are used to kill and paralyze small animals that come into contact with them. The cells are also used to defend the anemone from larger animals.

Adaptation Four: Depression in the center of its body and a mouth

An anemone’s mouth is located in its center where the tentacles meet. It has a slightly depressed mouth area where it opens to catch its prey.

Anemones as Predators

Anemones are able to capture and kill small aquatic animals by wrapping them in sticky, stinging cells located on the tentacles surrounding their mouth. The prey items are then pulled into the anemone’s body through the mouth.

Anemone Care in the Aquarium Environment

Anemones are a challenging and fascinating species to maintain in an aquarium, but they are also very rewarding. When carefully chosen and maintained, they can be a beautiful and fascinating addition to any aquarium. They should not be kept with very small fish or invertebrates, as they will be caught and eaten by the anemone. Some anemone species can grow very large and should not be kept in aquariums smaller than .

Overview

Now that we have a better understanding of what an anemone is, let’s take a look at a few of the most common aquarium species and their care requirements.

Corallimorphs

Corallimorphs are a type of soft-tentacled anemone that is closely related to corals. They are a hardy aquarium species that can be kept in captivity with a wide range of fish species and other aquarium invertebrates. They require moderate lighting and water flow and should be kept at a temperature between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Corallimorphs are solitary creatures, meaning they do not form colonies like their cousins the sea anemones.

Bushy Anemones

Bushy anemones are closely related to common sea anemones and are also easy to keep in captivity. In fact, they are one of the most common aquarium species kept in captivity. They are relatively hardy and can be kept with a wide variety of other aquatic species as long as they are not smaller than the anemone’s mouth.

Giant Green Anemones

Giant Green Anemones are very large and robust anemones that are challenging to keep in captivity. They need a very high amount of sustained current and should not be kept with smaller fish species. These anemones are best kept by advanced aquarists who understand the challenges of keeping them and have a very large aquarium to accommodate them.